Embryonal brain neoplasms in the neonatal period and early infancy.

We report on two cases of congenital primitive neuroectodermal tumors located in the posterior cranial fossa. They were symptomatic at birth with occlusive internal hydrocephalus. Clinical investigations had failed to diagnose brain tumors and had led to the suggestion of maldevelopment syndromes. In one of these children a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney was operated at the age of 4 1/2 months. Autopsy revealed medulloblastoma combined with a malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in one case and ependymoblastoma in the other.